Introverts Party Socks Part 2

Ready for Part 2 of the #introvertspartysock KAL?

These are directions for a standard short row heel using the wrap and turn (W&T) method. Quite honestly though, in this scenario I often use the fish lips kiss heel - which is just 1 dollar on Ravelry - and well worth the money.

The heel uses the wrap-and-turn method, and is worked back and forth on N2.

Set-up row (RS): N1: Drop working yarn (do not break) Using contrast yarn work in pattern as set across all sts. Do not turn.

Next row (RS): K31 (35), W&T (always slip wrapped st back to right-hand needle), and turn.

Next row (WS): P30 (34), W&T. Next row (RS): K29 (33), W&T Next row (WS): P28 (32), W&T.

Keep going in this fashion, working 1 less st each time (ie working to 1 st before the last wrapped st), until you work a final WS row:

Next row (WS): P10 (12), W&T.

You will have 10 (12) central sts and 11 (12) wrapped sts on either side.

For the second half of the short-row heel, you will work back across each of these wrapped sts, wrapping them again.

Next row (RS): K10 (12), k first wrapped st (pick up wrap and knit it together with that st), wrap next st

(this will now be double-wrapped) and turn.

Next row (WS): P11 (13), p first wrapped st (together with its wrap), wrap next st, and turn.

Next row (RS): K12 (14) (this will take you to the first double-wrapped st), pick up both wraps (from the front, bottom to top) and knit them together with the st, wrap next st, and turn.

Next row (WS): P13 (15), pick up both wraps (from the front, bottom to top) and purl them together with that st, wrap next st and turn.

Keep going in this fashion, working to the first double-wrapped st, picking up both wraps from front of work (bottom to top) and working them together with that st, wrapping the next st, and turning. Continue until all sts have been worked and you are ready to commence working in the round again.

Introverts Party Socks KAL Part 1

Introverts Party Sock KAL Part 1

This is a free KAL for a toe-up sock with a plain foot, pattern leg and a short row heel. Contrast yarn is used for the heel to keep the stripes uninterrupted. Alternative heels: fish lips kiss and afterthought would also work. If doing contrast heel/toe/cuff allow 15g contrast yarn.

Yarn: 100g (400)m self stripe sock yarn.

Gauge: 32 stitches x 44 rows = 10cm/4” in stocking stitch, blocked

Size: M (L): 20 (22.5)cm/8 (8.75”) circumference,
The pattern is written for the magic loop technique but feel free to substitute your preferred method.

CAST ON
Using Judy’s Magic Cast-On, and the magic loop technique, cast on 24 (32) sts; you will have 12 (16) sts on N1, and the same on N2.
Set-up rnd: K to end, and pm for start of round if desired.

INCREASES
Rnd 1: N1: K1, yo, k to last st, yo, k1. 14(16) sts
N2: As N1.

Rnd 2: N1: K1, k1 tbl, k to last yo, k1 tbl, k1.
N2: As N1.
Work rnds 1 & 2 until you have 64 (72) sts - 32(36) sts on each needle

FOOT
Knit foot plain until slightly stretched foot measures 5cm/2” from back of heel.

Have fun and I'll be back soon with Part 2. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #IntrovertsPartySocks and do feel free to share this or my instagram post with friends who might be interested.

Plain feet and party legs

The phrase ‘plain feet and party legs’ has been going around in my head for weeks now, for some reason. And as I cast on for a nice soothing pair of self stripe socks I found myself thinking about jazzing them up a little. Not too much mind - we don’t want to go wild- but just a little something to make them a little more party-like.

And so I came up with the Introverts Party Socks - a nice plain foot to cruise along and then a slightly jazzier cuff with a single chevron front and back to help show off those colourful stripes. Slightly bolder introverts could always run the chevron along the length of the foot as well if feeling sufficiently brave.

Like all the best ideas this was spontaneous and totally unplanned. So many folk have asked about a pattern though that I thought I could run this as an informal (and free KAL) over on my Instagram and of course, here. Please bear in mind though that this has not yet been through my usual testing/editing process so a few errors may linger here and there.

I will be making this available as a paid for pattern on Ravelry in due course, but for now if you’d like to join in our quietly festive, Introverts Party Socks KAL then please watch this space for updates or follow me over on Instagram.

Pre-launch of the Stash Appreciation Society

I let my newsletter subscribers in on the pre-launch a few days ago and I just wanted to pop in with a little more information about my upcoming project for 2020 - The Stash Appreciation Society.

To be perfectly clear and upfront this is a paid for, membership subscription which gets you access to an exclusive Facebook Group packed with chat, inspiration, monthly themes, KALs and free patterns all aimed at helping you to make the most of your stash during 2020. The monthly subscription will be £5 per month and doors will open for this on 1st January 2020.

If you already know that you would like to join however I am offering an early bird joining rate - a flat £40 which will give you membership for the full year until 31st December 2020. I know that this time of year can be hectic and so I’ll be keeping this early bird offer up until 31st January 2020 - so don’t worry if you’d rather wait until the New Year. You won’t miss out.

You can find all the information on the Society here and of course, if you have any questions please just reply to me here or on any of my usual social media links and I’ll do my best to respond as quickly as I can.

Introducing the Stash Appreciation Society

With advent and festive preparations in full swing it seems weird to be thinking ahead to the New Year but if I’ve learned anything from my few years in business, it’s that December vanishes in the blink of an eye. One minute you are getting out the advent decorations and planning your Christmas card list and the next minute you blink and everyone is talking about New Years Resolutions and Dry January.

So I wanted to briefly mention a new project of mine now - before the tinsel bedecked craziness of the next few weeks hits us.

Something new I’ve been dreaming about for a while now, something that I hope will become a fun new part of your knitting life - The Stash Appreciation Society.

A monthly membership club where we will most definitely not be undertaking any form of yarn diet. The Stash Appreciation Society is all about enjoying your stash, appreciating it and making the most of it.

It’s hub will be a dedicated facebook group and there will be the choice as to whether to pay a monthly subscription (for the price of a posh coffee) or go for the years membership at once.

Each month will see a new challenge or focus as we aim to end the year with a better relationship with our stash than when we started it. January will kick off with a DIY yarn club where we will aim to pair up yarn/patterns from our stashes and to make some plans to liberate all that amazing yarn we have hidden away from the world.

There will be KALs, swaps, and random acts of kindness-type events, geared at building a friendly, inclusive and warm woolly community. There will also be a few exclusive patterns from me along the way and you’ll also be the first to hear about my exciting plans for a 2020 podcast.

If this sounds like your kind of thing please do make sure you are signed up to my email list - further details and early sign-ups will be available in the next few weeks - and I’d love to see you there

Louise

xx

The season of giving

I’m doing an advent sale this year but a little differently. I’m aiming to keep it as relaxed and fuss free as possible. I’ve created a sale bundle on Ravelry and each day until Dec 12th I’ll be adding a new design of mine into the bundle.

Each design in the bundle will be half price and they will stay there until Dec 13th - so you can buy as many as you wish, all at 50% off.

I know that at this time of year a lot of people like to do little random acts of kindness - often by gifting Ravelry patterns, but at the minute there is no way to apply a coupon code to a gift purchase.

With that in mind I decided to make anything in my advent sale bundle automatically half price - with no need for faffing.

So please do take a look, and pop back during the next few days to see what other treats are added. There’s no limit to how many purchases you can make so you could buy something for yourself and for a friend.